Perry Hoffmeister is joining BMO Capital Markets as head of U.S. investment & corporate banking, effective April 19, the investment and corporate banking arm of Bank of Montreal (TSX: BMO) announced Thursday.

Hoffmeister will report to Bill Butt, global head of investment and corporate banking, BMO Capital Markets.

“With his vast experience, Perry will be instrumental in ensuring BMO Capital Markets is well positioned to grow our U.S. business and take advantage of new opportunities, especially as the U.S. economic outlook improves,” said Butt.

The veteran dealmaker will be responsible for spearheading all of the sector and product groups within BMO Capital Markets’ U.S. investment & corporate banking group. This includes key industries for BMO Capital Markets such as the business services & media, energy, financial institutions, financial sponsors, food & agriculture, healthcare, industrials and real estate sectors, as well as product groups that include M&A, equity capital markets, debt capital markets and loan poducts.

Hoffmeister joins BMO Capital Markets after 21 years at Lehman Brothers, where he was recently co-head of investment banking for Europe and the Middle East.

During his career, Mr. Hoffmeister has worked on more than a hundred investment banking transactions representing more than US$200 billion in value. His advisory and financing work for companies across several sectors includes many of the telecommunications industry’s defining transactions, including the US$47 billion acquisition of AT&T Wireless by Cingular Wireless.

Hoffmeister’s appointment follows several recent additions to the firm. Within the last year, BMO Capital Markets has hired more than 50 senior professionals in the United States, with plans to add more in the coming months.

IE